My mob are Wiradjuri and Walbunja of the Yuin nation on the South Coast. I’m the first of the sixth generation of the Smith family to be born on Walbunja country. The other generations were born on Gadigal country. I’m Jinny-Jane Smith.
My mother is Lisa Murray of the Wiradjuri nation and she married Kevin Smith of the Walbunja nation. Lisa comes from the Three Ways, Griffith, in the Riverina district. My father Kevin was born in Newtown. My paternal grandparents are Patricia Walker from the South Coast, and she married Keith Smith also from the South Coast. My maternal grandparents are Margaret (Margie) Murray from Griffith and Tommie Gowens from Darlington Point. Many of our old people were taken to Warangesda near Darlington Point.
I grew up very strong knowing about my Aboriginal culture, especially learning so much from my grandfather Keith. I was born on saltwater country but I’m freshwater as well. My two totems are Wiradjuri (goanna) and Umbarra (black duck), of which I am very proud.
When I was young, my family moved out to the Mount Druitt area in Sydney’s western suburbs. I grew up with several different Aboriginal families and one Torres Strait Islander family. I did learn a little about the Torres Strait Islander culture and language. I’m so proud that I still know a lot about my Aboriginal culture and languages.
I relocated to Redfern in 2008 with my daughter Wandjina who attended Darlington Public School. We lived in Waterloo where I worked at the Women’s Legal Centre, Koori Radio, Mudgin-Gal and the Redfern Community Centre. I learnt a lot about advocacy for my people. This allowed me to work more closely with my people to support them. This goes right back to the political activism of my father and grandfather, and my maternal ancestors who were freedom fighters, right back to Windradyne of the Wiradjuri.
My passion is advocacy for my LGBTQ+SB community. I have been working in this space for over 5 years, starting with ACON where I have now returned to. I am a founding member of BLAQ, a peak organisation supporting LGBTQ+SB people. This support is important because we didn’t have much of a voice to talk about the issues that matter to us. I’m also an organiser for the Sydney Mardi Gras First Nations float.
I will continue my work with LGBTQ+SB to ensure our mob feel safe in their identity and most authentic selves.
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This article is part of a series by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living and working on Gadigal land. The series, a joint project of the SSH and the City of Sydney, is curated by Aunty Norma Ingram.
